You found Artkive. You liked the idea. You looked at the pricing. You closed the tab.
This happens a lot. Artkive’s model is genuinely smart: you mail them a box of artwork, they photograph it, and you get a book back.
The catch is that the box is not the full cost. The box costs $39, including shipping. The book is priced separately and starts at $75 for 25 pieces. More pieces cost more, and two kids with a year of artwork add up fast. None of this makes Artkive a bad service. The books are nice, and many parents are happy to pay for them. It means it’s worth working out the full price before you fill the box.
Artkive prices checked on 29 October 2026 on artkiveapp.com/pricing.
So here are the alternatives. What works depends on the problem you’re trying to solve.
If you want someone else to handle it (and don’t mind paying)
Artkive is a well-known mail-in service. According to Artkive’s International FAQ, international orders are possible by mail. From Europe, mailing a box of drawings abroad and back takes longer and adds shipping cost. If that’s fine for you, read the pricing page carefully before you commit.
If you’re in Europe and happy to take the photos yourself
Disclosure: this blog is published by Scribbly.
Scribbly is a free app for iPhone and the web. You photograph a drawing, the background is removed automatically, and the artwork is sorted by child. When you’re ready, you turn your favourites into a book, a print or a gift. Books ship to Switzerland, the EU, the UK, the US and more. The app is free; you pay only for printed products.
If you want free (and don’t mind the work)
The most underrated approach: photograph everything yourself and use a photo book service.
Take a photo of each drawing with your phone. Create an album called “Art 2026”. When you’re ready to print, end of year works well, upload the photos to a photo book service such as Blurb, Shutterfly or a local one. Blurb’s photo books start from US $12 (blurb.com, checked on 29 October 2026).
The drawback: no background removal, so every photo includes your kitchen table. If you don’t mind the table, and many parents don’t, this system costs almost nothing to keep up.
If you use Android
Artkive’s website lists an iOS app. Scribbly runs on iPhone and in the browser, so you can use it on an Android phone through the web app.
The breakdown
| Artkive | Scribbly | DIY photo book | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who takes the photos | Artkive, after you mail the artwork | You, in the app | You |
| Entry cost | $39 box, book from $75 for 25 pieces | Free app, pay for prints | From US $12 (Blurb) |
| Automatic background removal | – | Yes | No |
| Ships to | See Artkive’s International FAQ | Switzerland, the EU, the UK, the US and more | Depends on the service |
Competitor details checked on 29 October 2026 on the companies’ own websites.
Which one to pick
You don’t want to photograph anything yourself: Artkive. Work out the full price before you fill the box.
You live in Europe and want clean images without the table: Scribbly for free capture and organising, then print when you’re ready.
You want to spend as little as possible: Photograph things yourself, keep them in a phone album and print once a year.
One thing is true whichever approach you pick: the best option is the one you’ll actually use. A beautiful book is worth little if the box sits in a cupboard for eight months. A phone album you update every month is worth more than any app you downloaded once and forgot.
Pick the option that matches how you actually work, not the most impressive one.
Prices checked on 29 October 2026. Prices change; check the provider’s site before ordering.
